A comparative study of melt flow in the CO₂ laser cutting of decorative ceramic tile

This paper investigates the behaviour of melt flow in a kerf during the CO₂ laser cutting of decorative ceramic tile. Using established analytical models from previously published work, melt layer thickness was estimated with respect to variation in cutting speed and shield gas pressure. Experiments were conducted and comparisons made between the theoretical predictions and the experimental findings, and results are presented that show the Imitations of the existing theoretical analyses when compared to those findings. © 2001 OPA (Overseas Publishers Association) N.V.